Milking machine cleaner or the cleaning liquid circulating type



Jan. 6, 1953 c. J. BUCHINGER MILKING MACHINE CLEANER oF THE CLEANING LIQUID CIRCULATING TYPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1948 ww. @www QW mm.

ATTORNEY.

ch er;i

Jan. 6, 1953 c. J. BUCHINGER 2,524,355

MILKING MACHINE CLEANER oF THE SLEANING LIQUID CIRCULATING TYPE med May 7, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 2 run-an Lr; ATTORNEY.

Jan. 6, 1953 c. .1. BUCHINGER 2,624,355

NILKING MACHINE CLEANER oF THE CLEANING LIQUID CIRCULATING TYPE Filed May 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Clyde J Bzzclzlnger,

BY MM 9 ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 6, F195:3

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE MILKING MACHINE CLEANER O F "IHE JCLEANIDKJ? LIQUID -CIRCULATING TYPE This invention relates v,t improvements in lmilking machine cleaners .of rthe 'cleaning liquid circulating type.

The principal .obiect is Sto-@provide ,a `cleaner wherein the vcleaning liquid has sustained and effective access to allsurfaces which may require cleaning and to all .surfaces '.to which the milk has, or may have, access, thereby to eiect the complete mechanical removal of .deposited solid and liquid matters, and, Aas agermicidal solution, to cause the milking machine tobe substantially germ-free at the completion Vof the cleaning operation.

A further object is .to provide a cleaner wherein the cleaning liquid is `drawn from and returned to a reservoir and hasa'continuous circuitous flow of novel andadvantageous character in that during its passage through the parts of the milking machine it is'at al1 times under positive pressure, thereby to have optimum eiective cleaning contact,y andts flow is in a direction such that all adhering solids and liquids which may remain in the vmilking machine after the milking operation are carriedaway anddeposited in suspension in the body of' cleaning fluid in the reservoir.

A further object is to provide a cleaner having the above operational characteristics and Wherein the pail of .the'milkingmachine is :utilized as the reservoir `for the cleaning liquid.

A further :object is to accomplish the results above stated in -a minimum degree of time and with a minimum vdegree of labor, the saving of time and labor being an important economical factor in the operation of -a dairy farm. AIn concrete terms, with a single attendant, a machine in accordance with the invention veffects the cleaning of a milking machine, in theoptimum manner and degree above stated, in less .than half of .the rtime required by cleaners heretofore in use.

A cleaner in accordance with Ythe invention may be used in connection withk any'type of milking machine and is 'herein shown, by way of example, as used -with 4a milking machine of .the general type shown in the patent-to Conde No. 2,340,454 of vFebruary 1', v1944.

Anembodimentof the linvention .and a stand.- ard milking machineof the Conde type are illustrated in the accompanying 4drawings' wherein:

Figure A1 is a front elevation ofthe .cleaner as disconnected from the milking machine. Inthis figure the cleaner is .shown-in a form :which enables its use :simultaneously with two milking machines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the lcleaner in operative relationto two `milking machines, the cover rfor the Amot-or and its connected parts being removed.

Vligure 3 isa vertical sectional view on the line 3.-,13l of .Figure 2 showing' jthe cleaner in operative relation to a milking machine.

yFigure .4 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of ow of the cleaning fluid Afrom the supply manifold to the .teat cups, .to the claw, and to the .air tubes which extend between the claw and the chambers .surrounding the rubber infla- `tions of the several teat cups, one of the teat cups being shown .in .central 'longitudinal section and the other shown-in elevation;

Figure 5 is abottom plan view, partly in section, ofan adapter .which forms a part of the cleaner and which, .during the cleaning operation, rests upon the top of the pail of the milk- .ing machine and supports the cover of the pail.

Figure 6 isa partialvertical sectional view on the lline 6,-.-.6 of Figure 72, this v.view showing `the pailand the .adapter in operative position upon it.

Figure 7 .is a perspective view of a standard milking machine of the .Conde type, this machine being shown .as in aise. The purpose of this ligure is to enable a Ymore ready understanding .of the operation lof the cleaner of the invention and the .manner in which v.the vcleaner is operatively connected to .the various parts of the milking machine.

Referring to Figure 7: The milking machine includes a -pail I having a handle la anda cover 2 carrying a pulsator 3 and a milk valve ll. The pulsator is connected by a stanchion tube 5 to the iusual vvsuction .line (not shown). The teat .cups .6 .comprise .cylindrical metal casings l .(Figure 4) .and `enclosed rubber iiexible resilient .open-ended casings 8 which `directly engage the `teats and are lknown inthe `trade as inflations. IIhe casings .'l provide 4chambers 9 in surrounding :relation to the .iniiations 8 r.and vare provided withterminal ysleeves Il) which have .tight fric-- tional .engagement with the rubber tubes yIl which communicate with the interior -of the in- -iiations and carry the milk. The inflations 8 are provided .at Atheir .outer .ends Vwith anges I3 which are channeled ato .take `over the beaded edges `of the .casings .1 and to `establish sealing engagement `with .thecasings The milking machine includes the usual claw I2 having the separate milk and .air vvchambers (not shown) and which, r.when .the vmachine isnot in use, is supported bythe handle I3 carried `bye-the cover 2.

f The'tubes `l'l lare vconi-rented `to -thelmilk chamber of the claw. The pulsator 3 is connected to the air chamber of the claw by rubber tubes I4 and the air chamber of the claw is connected to thel inflation chambers 9 of the teat cups by ination tubes I5. The milk chamber of the claw is connected by the rubber tube I6 to a nipple I9 which projects from the casing of the valve 4, and, the valve element I1 of the valve 4 being in open position, the milk flows through the tube I6 and such valve element into the pail I.

Referring to Figures l to 6:

The parts of the milking machine are carried by a supporting frame indicated generally at 20 and which includes vertical rear bars 2I, preferably of angle iron form, and L-shaped side brackets 22 which project forward from the bars 2I and each include a horizontal bar 23 attached to the bar 2 I, preferably by welding, and upwardly extending front bars 24. The bars 2| and 24 are connected and reinforced by a horizontal rectangular bracing frame 25. The upper portions of the bars 2| are connected and mutually braced by a transverse plate 26 which may be secured by welding and which forms the rear wall of a box 21 having a bottom wall 28 upon which the motor and other operating parts are mounted. The wall 28 is connected to the bars 24 by a bracing apron section 29 which is welded to the wall 28 and to the upper ends of the bars 24. The box 21 includes side walls 30 connected to the walls 26 and 28 and having apron extensions 3l which project below the wall 28 and are secured by welding to the bars 2I and to the apron section 29. The box 21 is completed, and normally closed, by a cover which consists of integrally connected top and front walls 32 and 33, the cover being detachably connected, as by screws 34, to lugs 35 carried by the walls 2E 4and 28.

For the support of the pailsrl the frame 23 carries a suitable bottom shelf. This may conveniently consist of parallel horizontal tubular bars 36 welded to cross strips 31 which are positioned upon the bars 23and secured to them by bolt fastenings 38.v The'bars 36 project to a suitable extent beyond the brackets 22 and are connected at their ends by cross strips 33. The projecting portions of the shelf thusconstituted serve as supports for the pails I, as ,shown in Figure 2, and the intermediate portion of the shelf, which extends between the brackets'22, may loe utilized for supporting paraphernalia used in connection with the milking and cleaning machines.

The frame 20 may be supported upon the floor in which case it may be provided with casters, illustration of which is deemed unnecessary. However it is preferably supported, as shown, from a wall of the building by means of hooks 40 (Figures 2 and 3) screwed into the supporting wall and passing through vertical slots 4I in the rear wall 26 of the box 21. As is obvious the frame 23 may readily be disconnected' from the hooks 40 and moved to a diiferent position as occasion may require.

The frame 20 is provided with any suitable means for supporting the teat cups 6 during the operation of the cleaning machine. As shown and preferred the teat cups supporting means consists of a series of pairs of parallel arms 42 which project forward from the apron section 29. Each arm 42 has at its inner end a flat mounting plate 43. The plates 43 are securely held in clamped relation by the apron section 29 and by upper and lower parallel clamping strips 44 which are secured by screws to the section 2S. The mutual spacing of the arms 42 of each cooperating pair may be adjustably varied in accordance with the diameter of the teat cups of the particular milking machines to be cleaned. The teat cups are arranged in clusters of four and each pair of arms 42 serves for the support of a pair of adjacent teat cups. These are inserted horizontally between the Yarms 42 which initially engage the overturned external flanges I3 of the inilations 3, thereby to hold the teat cups against dropping.

The flow of the cleaning solution is effected by a suitable rotary pump 45 which may be directly driven by a motor 4S, the pump and the motor being mounted upon and supported by the bottom 23 of the box 21. The electric cable 41 for the motor 46 projects through an opening in the rear wall 2S of the box 21 and carries a standard plug LEB. An inlet pipe 49 is connected to one side 'of the pump casing `andan outlet pipe 5t is connected to the opposite side. The pipe 4)V includes a vertical section 5I which projects through an opening in the bottom 23 and extends downward for a suitable distance. The outlet pipe 50 includes a horizontal section 52 which extends through a vertical slot 53 in the front wall 33 of the box and projects `forward fora suitable distance. Support for the 'pipe 50 and the parts which it carries may beV provided by a bracket 54 secured to the bottom 28 Vand having at its upper end a sleeve 55 through which the section 52 extends. The bracket 54 includes .a plate 56 which provides a closure for the slot 53. The section 52 of the .pipe 53 is connected at its front end to an upright section 51 which carries a horizontal supply manifold 53.

In the embodiment disclosed the cleaning machine is designed for simultaneously cleaning'two milking machines. Accordingly the section 51 is connected to the manifold 58 at a point central thereof, the part 58a of the manifold atthe leftof the section 51 being connected to one of the milking machines and the part 58h of the manifold at Vthe right of the section 51 being connected to the other milking machine. Each of the parts 58a and 58h of the manifold is provided with two pairs of nipples 59 for the supply of cleaning fluid to the teat cups, the nipples of each pair being angularly disposed with their axes in a common plane as shown in Figure 3, with a pair of nipples 60 for connection to the tubes I4 of the milking machine and with a nipple 6I for connection Yto the stanchion tube 5. The nipples V59 are directly vconnected to rubber tubes 62 which at their free ends are provided with means by which they may be connected in sealed relation to the teat cups and in open communication with them. This means preferably comprises a fiexible rubber envelope 63 (Figure 4) having an opening 64 by whichit may be engaged over the outer end of the teat cup, the annular Wall of the opening having sealing engagement with the teat cup casing 1 and the envelope enclosing, but being spaced from, the external iiange I8 of the teat cup inflation B. The envelopes 63 are preferably each provided adjacent their central opening 64 with a pair of integrally formed projecting fingers G5 by means of which they may be readily manipulated when they are to be fitted over or disconnected from the flanges I8.

The pail IV is utilized as a functional part of the cleaner, that is to say as a reservoir for the cleaning liquid and in this capacity is operatively'con- 'which projects below ire-ated in thejfrow circuit of theleaiuhgliquid by an adapter .designated generauyfas s s. y The adapter includes a cylindrical wauw; ancapctto jplate 68 'diameter such that it may havinga rest upont 'e'upperfedge'loffthebal `I as a supvmarginal VportieriV dcwnturnedonajcurv 'as at 1I the 'diameter ofthe plate Abeing suchpthat its niargi'n'al jportionfTI `slightly :spa-ced fro'rn` theheck The plate "I' Yis s'upp'clnrtxed by Vthe plated 158 to `which it isfconnected in Y anyy suitable manner and :deflectsmthej'cleening fluid 'toward the neck of the pail whereby'a`downwardlyow Ving film of cleaning uidwill vkcover the entire'innersurface of the pail above'the liquid level. The adapter also includes an angular pipe` 'I2 having a Vertical portion d3 internally arranged which'projects through the plates Eiland 'IIlandfora suitable distance below the platesl 'andlahorizontal Aportion M which projects externally vfor a suitable dista'nce'beyond the cylindrical wall vof the adapter. The part of the vertical -portion 'I3 the plate 'Ill is connected to a tube 75, preferably'of rubber, whichl terminates near the bottom of the Vpail I (Figllie 3) and ythe projecting portion 'I'Ii 'is v'connected 'by 'a vrubber tube 'I6 to a fitting 'VI ,wh'ichis "coupled 'to the lower end of the sectionEI of theppeli, a separatetting T of course being provided for each of the milking machines to 'belcleaned.k v

AIn the use of Vthe cl'eanerthe adapter '65 is mounted upon the pail 'I in the'rnanner described and as 'shown in detailin Figure. 'The pulsator 3 is disconnected from the "pail cover 2, the -tubes I'fl, and the 'stanchi'cn tube 5. v'I*he`cove"'1"2, with its sealing gasket removed, is then tted upon the upper edge ofthe cylindrical Wall B'Ifand the pulsator tubes I' at their 4e'nds'v/fhich were co'nnected to the pulsator are vcorine'zted to the hipples 6@ asshown schematicallyin Figure 4, their ,opposite endsremaining 'connected tothe claw I2.

The cylindrical Vwall'I of the'adaptercar'ries a projecting yhorizontal nple "I8 Awhich corrnuni- Cates with the chamber '-79 delinitdby the Cylindrical Wall 61, the bottom plate "68 and thepail cover 2. lWith the pulsatondi'sconr'iected from ltl'le'pail cover the central opening "inthe pail cover, which opening is normallycveredbyrthe pulsator, affords free communication between the 'chamber I9 and the atmosphere. fI "he stanchion ltube is connected tothe lnipplel 'of the adapter and to'thecorresponding vnipple 6I ofthe manifold '53. 'In order to provide ,for'the 'cleaningmof the inflation tubes Idtheadapterisprovided with a nipple 2Q adjacent, and sirnilar to, the nipple 78. A rubber tube 8| isconnectedutohthe .nipple 86 and atv its norinally free end carries kan auxiliary tubular cla-w82 provided' with oppositely projecting npples' which are arrangedinpairs. The

4i'nia't'ion tubes I5 rare disconnected from the .profjecting nipples o1 the teatcup Vcasings-I and at their ends which were connected to the-casings 'I are connected tothe nipples 'V83 of the claw 82, ltheir opposite 'endslreinaining connected Yto the `claw"I2. Thetealt cups -6v are connectedwto the "tubes '52 'in Ythe mannerdescfribed and tl'fietlbe`v I6 ANisleftdinA connected relation b'etw'e'en'the claw" I2 I an'dfthe' valve I5 carried byth'epail ooi/er1.'

-fviu'eufby v the can As -a precautionary measure -it is Y preferred to mount an electric llightbulb 48II inthe box v2'I, the 'electric cable S'orh-'bulb 84 projecting through an opening in the rear wall l26 of the boX`2-1-a'nd carrying a standard plug 8'6. The bulb 84 is for use when the temperature is at or below freezing and its purpose is-'to heat thebo; Y21'toa degree whereby any residual cleaning solution the casi-ngof the pump will-not become frozen.

'Wit-h the cleaner connected 'to the milking-macliine infthe'rnannerabove "describevafd the lflow fof the cleaning solutionisindicated in Figures Z-and -3 by the arrows applied -to the several pipes. The operation and operative characteristics l'al-"e fas' follows:

The cleaning {Tuidlewsiromthe reservoir pro- Y y r th'rough the -pipe 1 5, `l`the `tube 'i5 andthe pipe A to "the'vlowpres'sure'side-ofthe and 'thence from 4the high pressure -s'ide =of the pump under a pressure fof the iorder of -ten pounds l'per y'square linch through the vconnected pipes 52 'and 15T -tothernaniold 58 whence it vflows in parauei paths to the-chamber 11's of the adapter 66, these path's fbeing (ll) `the tubes "62, iniations of the teelt-cups, the teat cup tubesI I,

the claw l2, thetube I6 'and lthe valve 54, (s2) 'the Y pulsatortubes "I 13, thefelaw II5-2, I the Yinflation tubes I the auxiliar-yclavw'Z land' the ltube L'81', and-(3) vthestancl'iion'tube 5. Thefdiameter of'thelopening'S -inthe bottom plate! fof thefadapteris such that the cleansing -uid as delivered under pressure in thelohamber 'I9 -Ithrough the paths 'aforesadwilllll s'ai'd chamber and, filowin-g under pressure adjacent ftheunder'side of the -pail cover i2, will thoroughly -clean'fthe f-pail cover. As the cleaning A"ilu-id passes ffr'om 'the -chamber 'ISI through the Aopenin'gi) itwill be deiectedj by the 'distributor plate 7D-toward the'neck 'of the fpail and will flow in a along theentire `area-'of that -part of ythe `i'rirfer sur-"face fof fthe Apailfwlich is above fthe liquid Elevel, thereby thoroughly cleaning this area, Ealllas-above explained.

The claw' I2, in accordance-mth standard'practice, has its end opposite the en'dto A"which the tubes I4 and I-Iare'corinectedclosed-by'a'tightly fitting removable rubber-'cap 12a r'(1"igures"*2,i'3 and 7 Within the` chambers'of the claw IZ'thef cleaning. fluid'is lu'nder 'pressure to a degree such that it thoroughly cleans'es v'the exposedj inner surface of the c'apiIZe 'and permeates-tall"c'revices'between the cap Vanu the .body or thefclaw 12, therebyto clean the capof all deposited solid orsliquid matters and tomakelthe' milk-exposed surfaces-'of the cap germ free. l llnlitslowm'der pressure through theinfiation tubes I I'theclean'ing `uidpermeates the vcrevices between thetubesl I'I'andthe nipples |212 (Figure 4) yof'the-"claw3l-'2'to-wliich the'tubes I I are' attached, thereby having'access Jto-"a`-lllv milkexposed surfaces of the ftufbes '-II and the-nipples 12b and ffc'ausing lthern'to Vbe germree. 'As'the cleaning fluidll'eaveslthe tubes 62 it'fhas-la"circulae 'tion under pressure t'wi-thin "fthe -fenvlopes t-63 whereby the external lsurfac'e's of the 4flange I8 f are cleanedlfofanyadhering solidfforfliquidmatter and fare 'madegerm'frea It vwill 'belnotedrvthatilthe Ieai-ng'iiquidiflows through -theteat iips, the 'teat'cuptubes lI I; the claw I 2, .the tube? I64 and fthevalvedf infthersame directionas lthe mill "-andtl1at,-since the "cleaning liuid is under 'pressuraitsow'throughhe parts 'aforesaidfinvolves the rapid movement of i substantially Vair-free vliquid V'columna-"the cleaning l liquid being Vforced into vintimatecleaningpontact with all surfaces to which themilk" has,'"or"may have, access during the milking operation.

pulsator tubes I4, the inationtubes l and the stanchion tube 5 similarly cleans the internal surfaces of these tubes and makes them germ free.

During the cleaning operation the body of liquid in -the pail I is in the form of a column which is in constant downward movement and in constant replenishment. Due to these facts and to the rapidity with which the cleaning operation is accomplished the deposited particles which are caught up by the cleaning streams and carried to the body of liquid in the pail l will remain in suspension.

All adhering deposited particles removed by the cleaning liquid from the parts through which it iiows are carried in suspension in the rapidly moving streams and are ultimately carried into the body of cleaning iiuid within the pail l where they remain in suspension during the cleaning operation. When the cleaning operation has been completed the operation of the pump 45 is discontinued and the 'tubes 62 are then detached from the teat cups 6, the auxiliary claw 82 is detached from the inflation tubes l5, the stanchion pipe 5 is detached from the adapter 66 and the distributing pipe 58, the cover '2 is removed from the adapter, the tube is detached from the adapter and the pipe 5I and the adapter is removed from the pail l. connected are self-draining and become dry lby evaporation. The body of cleaning liquid is then poured from the pail l, carrying away with it all particles removed during the cleaning operation and which remain in suspension, and the pail, inverted and resting upon the bottom shelf of the frame or other appropriate support, is fully drained and becomes dry by evaporation, the entire internal surface of the pail being thoroughly cleaned and made germ free. When the pail and the other parts of the milking machine have been drained and dried, the milking machine is reassembled with its parts in the relation shown in Figure 7, ready for use.

After the use of the cleaner, the adapters 68 are conveniently supported by the frame 20. For this purpose the side walls 3i! of the box 21 are each provided with an outwardly projecting hook 81 (Figure 2) upon which an adapter may be hung as shown Vinv Figure 1, the normally open ends of the cylindrical walls 61 being passed over the hooks and the hooks being engaged in the inner ends of either of the nipples 18 or 80. The connection of the parts of the milking machine and the other required parts to the cleaner, and their disconnection from the cleaner, may be effected in a few moments, that is to say within one or two minutes and with a minimum amount of labor of a single attendant. The cleaning operation, carried to an extent to eiect the thorough removal of all deposited particles and to gain the full benefits of the germicidal eiect of the cleaning solution, is accomplished within from five to eight minutes, according to varying circumstances. The time thus required for a thorough operation is less than half of the time required by cleaners heretofore in use for a cleaning operation by no means as efficient. Since the cows must be milked morning and evening and the milking machine should be cleaned after each milking operation, the above stated saving of time and labor in the cleaning operation is an important factor in the economical operation of a dairy farm.

I claim:

The parts thus dis- .y

1. A cleaner for milking machines comprising,

*in combination, a continuously driven pump, a Y reservoir for the cleaning liquid, piping extending from the reservoir near its bottom and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby the cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump and provided with means for the 'connection thereto of the pulsator tubes of the milking machines, the pulsator tubes as connected to vthe manifold remaining connected to the claw of the milking machine, a tube in communication with the upper end of the reservoir and provided with an auxiliary hollow claw for yconnection to the iniiation tubes of the milking machine at the ends thereof which are normally connected to the inflation chambers of the teat cups, the inflation tubes as thus connected to the auxiliary claw remaining connected at their opposite ends to the claw of the milking machine, whereby the pulsator tubes, the claw of the milking machine and the inflation tubes are utilized to provide a path of flow for the cleaning liquid and the cleaning liquid flows under pressure through these parts, cleaning them during its flow, into the upper end of the reservoir in which it replenishes the body of cleaning liquid maintained in lthe reservoir.

2. A cleaner for milking machines comprising, in combination, a continuously driven pump, a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, the reservoir being provided by the pail of the milking machine, piping extending from the reservoir near its bottom and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby the cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump, tubes connected to the supply manifold and having at their free ends means for their detachable connection in sealed relation to the teat cups of the milking machine, an adapter removably mounted upon the upper end of the reservoir and having a vertical wall and a bottom formed with an opening communicating with the reservoir, the adapter providing support for the cover of the pail and having an internal chamber delimited by the bottom, the vertical wall and the milk pail cover and which communicates with the reservoir through said opening, and means of communication between the teat cups and the upper end of the reservoir, said means utilizing the tubes normally connected to the teat cups, the thereto attached claw of the milking machine and tubular connection between the claw and the milk valve carried by the milk pail cover whereby the cleaning liquid continuously flows under pressure from the manifold 4 through the teat cups, the tubes normally connected thereto, the claw and the milk valve, cleaning these parts during its flow, into the chamber of the adapter wherein it cleans the milk pail cover, and thence into the upper end of the reservoir in which it replenishes the body of cleaning liquid maintained in the reservoir.

3. A cleaner for milking machines as set forth in claim 2 wherein the supply manifold is provided with means for the connection thereto of the pulsator tubes of the milking machine, the pulsator tubes as connected to the manifold remaining connected to the claw of the milking machine, and a tube carried by the vertical Wall of the adapter is in communication with the chamber of the adapter and is provided at its free end With an auxiliary hollow claw which is connected to the inflation tubes of the milking 9 machine at the ends thereof whichv are normally connected to the ini-lation chambers of the teat cups, the inflation tubes at their opposite ends remaining connected to the claw of the milking machine, whereby the pulsator tubes, the claw of the milking machine and the inflation tubes are utilized to provide a path of flow for the cleaning liquid and the cleaning liquid continuously flows under pressure through these parts, cleaning them during its flow, into the chamber of the adapter and thence into the reservoir in which it replenishes the bodyy of cleaning liquid maintained in the reservoir.

4. A cleaner for milking machines comprising, in combination, a continuously driven pump, a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, the reservoir being provided by the pail of the milking machine, piping extendng from the reservoir near its bottom and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby the cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump, an adapter removably mounted upon the upper end of the reservoir and having a vertical Vwall and a bottom formed with an opening communicating with the reservoir, the adapter providing support for the cover of the pail and having internal chamber delimited by the bottom, the vertical wall and the milk pail cover and which ycfnnmunicates with the reservoir throughV said opening, means carried by the supply manifold for the connection thereto of sundry tubular parts of the milking machine and means for establishing communication between said tubular milking machine parts and the internal chamber of the adapter whereby the cleaning liquid ows under pressure from the supply manifold through said parts, cleaning these parts during itsv how, into the chamber of the adapter wherein it cleans the milk pail cover, and thence into the upper end of the reservoir in which it replenishes the body of cleaning liquid maintained in the reservoir.

5. A cleaner for milking machines as set forth in claim 4 wherein the adapter is provided with a distributor plate` arranged in spaced relation below its bottom and having its marginal portion slightly spaced from the neck of the reservoir, the distributor plate serving to'deiiect the cleaning liquidv flowing through said opening in the reservoir toward the neck of the reservoir whereby a downwardly flowing nlm of cleaning liquid will cover the entire inner surface of the reservoir above the liquid level.

6. A cleaner for milking machines which utilizes the pail of the milking machine and sundry 'tubular'parts of the milking machine in the flow lcircuit of the cleaning liquid, the pail as thus utilized providing a reservoir yfor the cleaning liquid and which comprises, in combination, a continuously driven pump, iping extending from the reservoir near its bottom and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump, an adapter removably mounted upon the upper end of the pail and having a cleaning liquid receiving chamber in communication with the pail, means for connecting the tubular parts of the milking machine to the supply manifold, and means for connecting the tubular parts of the milking machine to the chamber of the adapter whereby the cleaning liquid nows under pressure from the supply manifold through the tubular parts, cleaning themas it hows, into-the cham-ber of the adapter andthence into the upper end of the reservoir in which it replenishes the body of cleaning liquid maintained in the reservoir.

7. A cleaner for milking machines as set forth in claim 6 wherein the adapter as mounted upon the upper end of the pail supports the pail cover and the means for connecting the tubular parts of the milking machine to the chamber of the adapter utilizes the milk valve on the pail and the milk lsupply tube connected to said valve.

8. A cleaner for milking machines as set forth in claim 6 wherein the adapter is provided with a distributor plate having its marginal portion slightly spaced from the neck of the reservoir, the distributor plate serving to deflect the cleaning liquid toward t-he neck of the reservoir whereby a downwardly `flowing film of cleaning liquid will cover the entire surface of the reservoir above the liquid level.

9. A cleaner for milking machines as set forth in claim 6 wherein the adapter Ais provided below the cleaning liquid receiving chamber with a distributor plate upon whichv the cleaning liquid is discharged from saidchamber, the distributor plate having its marginal portion slightly spaced from the neck of ther'reservoir and serving to deect the cleaning liquid toward the neck of the reservoir whereby'a downwardly flowing film of cleaning liquid will cover the entire surface of` the reservoir above the liquid level.

10. A cieaner for milking machines comprising, in combination, a continuously driven pump, a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, the reservoir being providedby the pail of the milking machine, piping extending from the reservoir near its bottom and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby the cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump, an adapter removably mounted upon the upper end `of the reservoir and having a cleaning liquid receiving chamber and a distributor plate, the margin of which is slightly spaced fromthe neck of the reservoir, the distributor plate serving to `deiiect the cleaning'liquid issuing from the chamber toward the neck of the reservoir whereby a downwardly flowing lmof cleaning liquid will cover the entire inner surface of the reservoir above the liquid level, means carried b y the supply manifold for the connection thereto of sundry tubular parts of the milking machine and means for establishing communication between said tubular milking machine ,partsv and the cleaning liquid receiving chamber of they adapter whereby the cleaning liquidv flows under pressure from the supply manifold through said parts, cleaning them during its now, into the chamber of the adapter and thence into the -of the pump, tubes connected to the supply manifoid and having at their free ends means for their detachable connection in sealed relation to the teat cups of a milking machine, means of communication between the teat cups and the upper end of the reservoir, said means utilizing the tubes normally connected to the teat cups, the thereto attached claw of the Inilking machine and the tube for conveying milk from the claw, the supply manifold being provided with means for the connection thereto of the pulsator tubes of the milking machine, the pulsator tubes as connected to the manifold remaining connected to the claw of the milking machine, and a tube in communication with the upper end of thel reservoir and provided at its free end with an auxiliary hollow claw which is connected to the inflation tubes of the milking machine at the ends thereof which are normally connected to the inflation chambers of the teat cups, the inflation tubes at their opposite ends remaining connected to the claw of the milking machine, the cleaning liquid continuously owing under pressure and with cleaning effect from the manifold through the teat cups, the tubes normally connected thereto and the first named claw, and from the first named claw through the pulsator tubes, the auxiliary hollow claw, and the tube which carries the hollow claw and alsovthrough the tube for conveying milk from the rst named claw into the upper end of the reservoir in which it replenishes the body of cleaning liquid maintained in the reservoir.

12. A cleaner for milking machines comprising, in combination, a continuously driven pump, a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, piping extending from the reservoir near its bottomv and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby the cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump, tubes connected to the supply manifold and having at their free ends means for their detachable connection insealed relation to the teat cups of a milking machine, and means of communication between the teat cups and the upper end of the reservoir, said means utilizing the tubes normally connected to the teat cups, the thereto attached claw of the milking machine and the tube for conveying milk from the claw, the means for the detachable connection of the tubes connected to the supply manifold to the teat cups consisting of exible rubber envelopes, each having an opening by means of which it may be engaged over the outer end of a teat cup with the annular wall of the opening in sealing engagement with the casing of the teat cup, the envelope as connected to the teat cup enclosing, but being spaced from, the external ange of the teat cup inflation.

13. A cleaner for milking machines comprising, in combination, a continuously driven pump, a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, piping eX- tending from the reservoir near its bottom and connected to the low pressure side of the pump whereby the cleaning liquid is drawn from the reservoir and forced through the pump, a supply manifold connected to the high pressure side of the pump, and means for the communicating connection between the supply manifold and the reservoir of sundry tubular parts of the milking machine whereby the cleaning liquid ows under pressure from the supply manifold through said parts, cleaning them as it flows, into the upper end of the reservoir in which it replenishes the body of cleaning liquid maintained in the reservoir, the means including an adapter removably mounted upon the upper end of the reservoir and having a cylindrical wall, a bottom plate which carries the cylindrical wall, rests upon the upper edge of the reservoir as a support and is formed with an opening through which the cleaning liquid returns to the reservoir, a cover which consists of the cover of the milk pail and which is removably supported upon the upper edge of the cylindrical Wall, and certain of said tubularparts which provide cleaning uid flow lines and are connected to the cover and to the cylindrical wall, the adapter with the cover supported Vthereon providing an internal chamber with which said flow lines communicate, and which communicates with the reservoir by means of said opening in the bottom plate, the diameter' of said opening being such that the cleaning liquid will iill said chamber and ow under pressure in contact with the under side of the cover, thereby to clean the cover.

CLYDE J. BUCHINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 16,839 Bork Dec. 27, 1927 655,200 Condron Aug. 7, 1900 1,194,542 Raymond Aug. 15, 1916 1,538,734 Oden May 19, 1925 1,579,796 Shiels Apr. 6, 1926 1,627,824 Beaty May 10, 1927 1,946,400 Hapgood Feb. 6, 1934 2,018,403 Hussar Oct. 22, 1935 2,201,774 Hofele May 21, 1940 2,228,520 Hodsdon Jan. 14, 1941 2,292,849v Schmitt Aug. ll, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Y Date 19,188 Austria Feb. 10, 1905 110,006 Australia Mar. 5, 1940 145,221 Austria Apr. l0, 1936 

